screwy
Google
I want to start by saying I almost canceled this reservation a number of times, based upon reviews here, on FB, on Reddit. I am so happy we didn't. ||My husband and I travelled in mid-October (pre-hurricane) to the EOB to celebrate our 20th anniversary; it was our first time in Jamaica and first at an Excellence property. We arrived in Montego Bay and connected immediately with our Mobay rep (the $ for the Mobay service is worth it 100%), who escorted us through the process right up through putting us in a car to the resort. ||We were in the Club Level Beach House #3 with a plunge pool, overlooking the beach where we'd watch stingrays in the mornings, birds, and the swaying palms. The upgrade to Club level is worth it just for the the extra restaurants, golf cart service when it's pouring (which it does, but only briefly), and concierge. Magna was closed while we were there, so each morning we'd stroll to Zenith on the other side of the resort, about a 10 minute walk. Every EOB employee we saw, from lifeguards to lawn crews, greeted us with a warm smile and a "good morning!". ||Food was good throughout the resort, nothing amazing, but tasty and plentiful (even for foodies). Standouts were the Hibachi (the only one you need a reservation for), the Jamaican Grove (I dream about that Jerk Pork), and Zenith. If you're a wine person, I suggest bringing your own - there's no good wine that is included, though you can purchase upgraded bottles for an astronomical price. Cocktails at the Excellence Club bars were great, strong, and made fresh. The other bars were good, but the Club ones are standouts. We didn't do any nightly shows except for the Bob Marley tribute, which was 10/10 - absolutely astonishing.||The room was lovely, and the beds were comfortable. The plunge pools were nice, but we really didn't use it much. Loved the bed on the balcony for my afternoon naps while listening to the lapping waves. One thing: do not expect any privacy from your partner while in the room - showers are open to viewing with clear glass, and the toilets are in a separate room, but there is not a seal on the door. You can hear everything. For a couple of 20 years, that's not really a big deal, but I imagine some honeymooners may be a little uncomfortable. ||The absolute highlight of our trip, though, was the staff. Service was efficient, friendly, and overall great. I had heard it would take ages to get anything served at restaurants and room service, but we didn't experience that at all. ||I have to call out the most amazing server at Zenith, Trecel. She went so above and beyond during our stay, welcoming us in the mornings, chatting about the island, and even surprised us the last day of our stay with local hot sauces that she bought herself after we talked to her about what Jamaicans use at home, as opposed to what they serve at the restaurants. She was so friendly and made us feel so special - thank you so much, Trecel! Dwayne and Ricardo at the Excellence Club were also so helpful and made our trip that much better.||Get off the fence and book it. We'll most definitely be back!